HP MediaSmart Server 3.0 Update Available to Order This Week

We Got Served has the scoop on a new software update for users of HP's previous generation (EX470 and EX480) Windows Home Server-based MediaSmart Servers. It will bring them up to the 3.0 software level, providing them with the capabilities HP previously provided to users of the current generation (EX490 and EX495) MediaSmart Server products.

The 3.0 software update DVD will be available to order beginning later this week, with shipments beginning next week. These optional updates are available to purchase for owners of our EX470/475/485/487 products who want to upgrade their servers to the latest 3.0 software that is shipping on the EX490/495 products.

Please note the previously communicated information related to these updates:

1) The cost of the upgrade DVD has been finalized and will be US$25 or €25.

2) These upgrades will be available as a server recovery solution. HP recommends that you back up all server files prior to installing the upgrade.

3) This upgrade is not recommended for EX470/475 owners who have not already upgraded their Server DRAM to 1GB as certain features will not function.

To order the upgrade DVD, visit www.hp.com and enter your product model number in the "Support and Drivers" section. Then follow the path for your MediaSmart Server model number to order the upgrades.

We thank everyone for their continued support of the MediaSmart Server family of products.

If you're confused about which MediaSmart Servers are which--and that's understandable, as they're all almost completely identical looking--check out my article, HP MediaSmart Servers (Late 2009), which details the differences between each generation.

Thanks to Chris Waters for the tip, and for pointing me to this interesting update as well: Apparently, HP has also released an an update package for the MediaSmart Server, called HPMSS-1.3-R1, that includes an update rollback feature and some other interesting changes.